By Rick Staudt
Source Hoops
Leesburg won the state 4A title last season. With realignment and the expansion to eight classifications, they are now shooting for another state title, this time in 6A. They take on a surprising Wolfson team out of Jacksonville. Both teams won by one point in their regional final games.
Leesburg got the tap and their first possession resulted in a mid-range bucket by 6’2 junior Undra Mitchem. After a turnover by both teams, Wolfson’s 6’2 senior Lucious Richardson scored in transition. The pace was a bit slow as both teams seemed a bit nervous as they turned the ball over. Joe Toolie of Leesburg knocked down a three to break the dry spell. Wolfson continued to struggle from the field and when 6’4 senior D’Mauri Jones put back a missed shot Leesburg was up 7-2 with just over four minutes to play in the quarter.
Wolfson’s 6’2 junior Kerry White dropped in a three but that was answered by two free throws from 6’5 Leesburg sophomore Troy Willis. Wolfson scored three straight points to get within one as 6’2 junior Jasper Sasser scored in transition and 6’0 senior Tommy Nelson hit one of two free throws. Leesburg’s 6’1 junior Taj Lake dropped in a three to get the lead back to two possessions. Richardson responded with a three for Wolfson but after Jones scored inside for Leesburg just before the end of the quarter, Leesburg led after one, 14-11.
Wolfson scored the first four points of the second quarter as 5’9 junior Jerome Thomas drove the lane for a basket and then Richardson beat every one down court for a score. Leesburg called timeout now down one. The Yellow Jackets answered with five points as Toolie hit a three and 6’0 senior Juliard Roberts scored on the break. Richardson scored for Wolfson and Mitchum answered for Leesburg.
Thomas hit two free throws to once again get Wolfson back to within a basket. Toolie knocked in a three for Leesburg to make it a two possession game. Richardson again connected on two free throws for Wolfson but that would be the last points the Wolfpack would score in the quarter.
Leesburg would end it on a 6-0 personal run by Mitchum as he knocked down two mid-range jumpers and hit a floater in the lane as time expired. At the half, Leesburg led 30-23.
Wolfson’s 6’2 junior Lawrence Taylor scored the first basket of the second half. Leesburg’s Willis and Mitchum each connected on three point plays and Leesburg quickly had an eleven point lead. A basket by Sasper and White got the margin down to seven but once again Mitchum came thru for Leesburg with tow buckets to grow the lead back to double digits with just under five minutes left in the third.
It looked bleak for Wolfson but surprisingly they went on an 11-4 run to close out the quarter. Sasser hit one of two free throws and then Nelson knocked down a three. Roberts of Leesburg scored in transition but then 6’0 senior Jayland Holloman connected on a three point play. That was also Toolie’s fourth foul and he went to the bench.
Leesburg tried to slow things down without their main ball-handler but after Wolfson’s 5’8 junior Brandon Belton scored in transition and Nelson put back a missed shot, the lead was only two for Leesburg. Willis of Leesburg got the last shot of the quarter to put the Yellow Jackets up by a score of 44-40 with one quarter to play.
Leesburg got the margin up to seven after a Mitchum jumper and Bisbee baseline drive were sandwiched around a free throw by Wolfson. Thomas and Sasser each scored for the Wolfpack to make the margin three. After two free throws by Roberts of Leesburg, Wolfson put together a 7-0 run as Richardson scored after a steal and Taylor knocked down a jumper and connected on a three point play. Now Wolfson held a one point lead at 52-51 with just over four minutes left.
After a dry spell for both teams, Leesburg’s Mitchum put the Yellow Jackets back up by one after an offensive rebound. On the ensuing play, Richardson drove the ball and a foul was called on Willis. It was his fifth foul and he reacted as a sophomore would to a questionable call. Unfortunately he was tagged with a tech. This game Wolfson a 1-and-1 opportunity, two technical free throws and the ball. They missed the front end of the one-and-one, made both techs and scored quickly in the inbounds play.
Wolfson now had a three point lead with just under two minutes to go. However, they couldn’t handle prosperity and Leesburg was able to turn the Wolfpack over and score points. In less than a minute, Leesburg scored in transition and then scored after a steal. Wolfson continued to struggle with the ball and turned the ball over on their final three possessions.
Forced to foul, Leesburg had their chances to ice it at the line. However, they missed four straight free throws. Wolfson could not get a good shot and Leesburg moves on to the 6A finals with a 57-56 win.
Mitchum led the way for the Yellow Jackets with eighteen points while Willis added eleven and Roberts put in ten. For Wolfson only Sassed made double figures with ten points but eight different players scored.
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